Super Max: What Max Verstappen winning ten Grand Prix in a row means
“It was the car,” “I could have done that,” “Any of the greats could have done that in that car.” These are all remarks made by millions behind the comfort of their TV screens. However, what does it really mean to win ten F1 races in a row? The previous record holder was Sebastian Vettel in 2013. He won nine Grand Prix in a row, a record every single person at the time called unbreakable. At the start of the 2023 F1 season, it was clear that RedBull was the favorite. Their drivers were nearly level on points heading into round 5 in Miami, each having taken two wins. Driver Sergio Perez of Mexico had won the previous Grand Prix in Bahrain, his second time winning on the streets of Baku, leading many to feel as though a proper title fight was coming this year. However, Max Verstappen was not happy about this. Having won the championship two years in a row, the Flying Dutchman, as he is often called, felt a threat to his current reign. Verstappen has always been hailed as a ruthless yet absolutely top-class driver. Scoring points in his second F1 race ever, Max Verstappen became the youngest points scorer in F1 history, at just 17 years and 180 days old at the Malaysian Grand Prix. While many remained skeptical that a teenager, who wasn’t even old enough to drive a car on the roads of the Netherlands yet, could be a great F1 driver, these skeptics were soon shut down. At the Spanish Grand Prix in 2016, it was announced mid-season that RedBull Driver Daniel Kvyat would be replaced by Max Verstappen due to “poor form.” Many called RedBull delusional, stating that a “kid” couldn’t possibly do better than an experienced driver. As the race began, the two Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton collided, leaving the race wide open for anyone to win. Max swooped in, and at just 18 years and 228 days old, claimed victory in the first race with his brand-new car and team. Fast forward to 2023, Max began a string of unforgettable races: Miami, Monaco, Spain, Canada, Austria, Great Britain, Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands, and finally Italy. At the temple of speed, Max drove a stunning race to bring his car home for a tenth win in a row. But why is this special? While yes, the 2021 season is the longest in F1 history with 23 races, this feat remains impeccable. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton won five in a row in his F1 W11 Mercedes in 2020, which won 76% of all races. In 2004, seven-time champion Michael Schumacher won seven in a row with his F2004 Ferrari, which won 83% of all races. Nico Rosberg, the 2016 champion, matched that in his F1 W07 Mercedes, which won 90% of all races. Four-time world champ Sebastian Vettel won nine in a row with his RB9, which won 68% of all races. And exactly 10 years later, in the RB19, Max Verstappen has made it ten in a row with no sign of stopping him. Toto Wolff of Mercedes claimed Max’s record was “for Wikipedia, and nobody reads that anyway.” So while Toto and many others continue to make their claims and say their peace on Max Verstappen’s record, one thing is for certain: Max has rightfully earned himself a spot among F1 greats and has solidified his name as the man who did what countless world champions couldn’t—win ten Grand Prix in a row.
